ngling from a
tree overhanging the side of the cliff lining the tracks on one side,
he had made out two boys.

"The Canaries!" he murmured to himself, in profound surprise and deep
interest. "I even heard them whistle."

Ralph was so sure that the little swinging figures he had seen were
the lithe, strange creatures who had been brought to Stanley Junction
by Zeph Dallas, that he thought about it all the rest of the trip. He
said nothing further to Fogg about the circumstance, but he resolved
to investigate later on.

The young engineer tried to calculate ahead how some day soon he could
arrange to visit the vicinity of the old Fordham spur. He was positive
that he had seen the two Canaries. Their presence at the spur
indicated that they must be denizens of its neighborhood. This being
true, their presence might indicate the proximity of Zeph Dallas. At
least the strange young foreigners might know what had become of the
ardent young "detective."

Ralph made a good many inquiries of his fireman as to the Fordham
spur. Fogg simply knew that it ran to an old ruined factory long since
abandoned. On the return trip Ralph kept a sharp lookout as they
neared the cut. There was no second appearance of the Canaries,
however, nor the next night, nor that following. The young engineer
found no opportunity of visiting the place, but he kept his plan to do
so constantly in mind.

It was two days later as he made the short cut to the roundhouse about
noon, that Ralph was greeted by a new discovery that fairly took his
breath away. He had stepped aside to wait till a locomotive with one
car attached passed the crossing. The peculiar oddness of the car at
once attracted his attention.

It was an old tourist car, used only on far western railroads. He had
seen its like only once or twice before. Its inside shades were all
drawn. There was no sight of life about it. The locomotive belonged to
the northern branch of the Great Northern, and had the right of way
and was tracked for the Mountain Division.

"That's a queer layout," soliloquized Ralph, as the strange outfit
flashed by. "Hello!"

The young engineer uttered a great shout. As the car passed him he
naturally glanced at its rear platform.

Upon its step in solitary possession of the car sat his long-lost
friend--Zeph Dallas.

CHAPTER XXVI

MYSTERY

Ralph Fairbanks saw Zeph Dallas distinctly and recognized him. The
latter looked up as the young engineer ut